Belleville Police Department

Message from Chief Clay

The principle mission of the Belleville Police Department is to provide public safety and to contribute to the quality of life for each of its citizens. We do this by protecting, serving and working with the community to develop philosophies which promote fair and equitable treatment between the citizens and police. We seek a partnership built on earned trust, dedication to duty and humility to service.

The Belleville Police Department is the largest police department south of Springfield Illinois. With 84 sworn officers and 25 civilian employees we provide a number of specialized services to the citizens of Belleville. Most of you are familiar with Uniformed Patrol and plain clothes Detectives the main stay of any department.

In addition, the department has a Traffic Unit staffed with two State Certified ‘Traffic Crash Reconstructionist’. Three State Certified Crime Scene Unit Detectives, trained at the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Academy. Our K-9 Unit consists of four officers and their K-9 partners and this unit trains and certifies the majority of the metro-east police departments’ K-9 units. Finally the department, along with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, provides the services of the area’s only Special Response Tactical Team. They are the police the police call when they need help.

I acknowledge to each of you there are times when the challenges to order maintenance seem overwhelming. The evil inflicted by a few on our fellow citizens is sometimes disheartening, but not long lasting. I am committed to this profession of serving and protecting. To that end, it is my strong faith that keeps me moving forward.